Dubai community cats now have another source of support thanks to a new donation service available on the DubaiNow app. Residents can contribute towards AI-powered feeding stations that provide food and water for community cats across the city, making it easier to care for animals while helping keep public spaces clean and organised.
The initiative has been launched by Digital Dubai in partnership with Dubai Municipality and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy. Together, they aim to replace random feeding with a cleaner, more structured and sustainable system that benefits both community animals and the wider city.
A simple way to support community cats
Many Dubai residents already look out for the cats that live around their neighbourhoods, parks and public spaces. The new service offers a convenient way to continue supporting them without leaving food in public areas.
Using the DubaiNow app, residents can donate from AED 10 or choose a custom amount. After logging in with UAE Pass, users simply search for Ehsan Feeding Stations, complete the payment using a saved debit or credit card, and receive an SMS confirming their donation. Those visiting one of the stations can also scan the QR code displayed on the kiosk to contribute instantly.
Every donation helps cover the refilling, operation and maintenance of the smart feeding stations, ensuring they remain stocked with food and water for community cats across Dubai.
AI-powered stations bring a smarter solution
The donations support Dubai Municipality’s Ehsan Feeding Stations, a network of smart kiosks designed to provide a more organised way of feeding community animals.
Using artificial intelligence, the stations can detect community animals, collect behavioural data and dispense carefully measured portions of food and water when needed. This helps reduce food waste, discourages unorganised feeding and creates a cleaner environment while ensuring animals continue to receive regular care.
The pilot phase currently includes 12 smart feeding stations across Dubai. Ten have been installed inside public parks, while the remaining two are located at facilities operated by Dubai Holding. Residents can also make a donation directly at the kiosk by scanning the QR code displayed on the station.
Part of Dubai’s growing focus on animal welfare
The new donation service reflects Dubai’s continued investment in technology that improves everyday life while encouraging residents to contribute to meaningful community initiatives.
The Ehsan Feeding Stations form part of Dubai Municipality’s wider animal welfare strategy, which also includes modern shelters, veterinary care, adoption programmes and internationally recognised Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) programmes that help manage community animal populations responsibly and humanely.
For residents who have always wanted to help the cats they see around the city, the new DubaiNow service offers an easy way to make a lasting difference. With just a few taps, supporting Dubai community cats has become more convenient, more organised and more sustainable than ever.
